REOPENING AND THE GREAT REOPENING ROLL BACK A Credit Union’s Guide to Best Practices in Uncertain Times Best Practices Webinar Gary Silverman, Esq. Seth Berenzweig, Esq. Jonathan Silverman Milt Theologou, Esq. Diana Theolgou, Esq.
Reopening and the Great Roll Back - An Overview As states are both lifting stay-at-home orders and rolling back phased re-openings, Credit Unions face unprecedented challenges. Is it time to bring staff back to work, and how should employers manage their workforce? Or allow members into facilities? What do Credit Unions need to know about revised court procedures? And what new legislation is on the horizon? July 2020 Economic “Reality Check” • Polls taken at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak indicated that most Americans expected to use stimulus checks to pay for rent and food during these uncertain times. However, polls taken in July 2020 indicate that most Americans are spending those checks to pay down debt, purchase consumer products and add to savings. Only 15% are using stimulus checks for necessities • Updated polls taken in July of 2020 indicated that, although unemployment was expected to rise between 25% - 40%, nationally unemployment stands at 11%. (the mid-Atlantic is averaging 8% while NY, NJ and CA are averaging 15%+) In the event Federal unemployment payments end, forcing a segment of workers to return to their former positions, it is predicted that number would decrease to 6% (still almost double the rate of unemployment in February 2020) • As governments and businesses struggle to decide whether to reopen and how to reopen, given the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and phased reopening roll backs, 80% of Americans polled favor unemployment and stimulus checks through 2020 so they may choose whether to stay home or return to work Today we will look at what to expect from Reopening and what you can do to make that transition smoother. We will discuss: • Phased Opening and Roll Backs; Legislative Action; and the Look Beyond • Court Phased Reopening and Legislative action • Human Resources best practices as business struggle to reopen as states roll back phased reopening
Reopening and the Great Roll Back – June’s Phased Reopening As reported in the New York Times in June 2020, many states having “flattened the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic, began phased reopening of businesses, with restrictions in order to diminish the number of new COVID-19 cases, highlights as reported include: • Pennsylvania: The governor took a county-by-county approach to shutting down and took a similar approach to reopening, allowing counties to open in phases; by July 3 rd , the entire state was in the last phase of reopening, but wearing a mask is now required in all public places; starting July 16 th , indoor dining was reduced to 25% capacity, and bars could open only for restaurant service; social distancing and face coverings when outside the home have now been mandated by the state • Maryland: The governor, who has called for an aggressive response to the virus, allowed some businesses to open, including restaurants to 50% capacity, with social distancing requirements starting May 15 th , but encouraged the adoption of more restrictive local guidelines as needed; many Maryland jurisdictions, including Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have adopted slower reopening plans; social distancing and face coverings when outside the home have been mandated by the state (yesterday governor issues new mask order – not a rollback – but additional safety precaution due to rising number of MD cases and hospitalizations) • District of Columbia: Washington, D.C., was under one of the nation’s strictest lockdowns until the mayor began reopening on May 29 th . On June 22 nd , the mayor opened a second round of businesses and increased restaurant capacity from 25% to 50%; social distancing and face coverings to be worn when outside the home have been mandated by the mayor • Virginia: The governor started reopening much of the state on May 15 th , but kept northern Virginia, located near Washington, D.C., closed until May 28 th ; all counties moved into Phase 3 on July 1 st ; the governor lifted capacity limits on retail stores, restaurants and bars, but kept some restrictions on indoor seating in place; there was no mandate to wear face coverings in public places or retail outlets until Mid July 2020, although a mandate to wear face coverings indoors has since been put in place
Reopening and the Great Roll Back – July’s Reopening Roll Back As reported by Forbes, in the last week of June 2020, over 40,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in one day . As a result, July saw many states hit the pause button, roll back phased reopening or place new prohibitions in place to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, highlights as reported include: • California : The governor ordered seven counties, including Los Angeles, to close bars and nightspots, and recommended that eight other counties take action on their own to close those businesses; in a statement, the governor said that Covid-19 was “growing stronger” and why “it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases” • Texas: After reporting a 79% increase in its weekly average of coronavirus cases, the Texas governor closed all bars in the state (though they can remain open for take out and delivery) and restaurants must limit capacity—that edict came just one day after the governor said Texas must pause any further reopening as it grapples with record number of cases; he also issued an Executive Order suspending elective surgeries in four counties to preserve hospital bed availability for Covid-19 patients • Florida: Florida has shut down bars in an effort to mitigate a record spike in cases across the state, according to an announcement from Halsey Beshears, Secretary of the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (people from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut must self-quarantine at their own expense for 14 days when they enter Florida (violators may be fined up to $500 or imprisoned for up to 60 days); with the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spiking in parts of Florida, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, in early July, ordered all short-term vacation rentals in the county closed • New York : New York will delay the reopening of malls, gyms and movie theaters, originally scheduled to open as early as the beginning of July in some parts of the state, while the health department reviews more data on the indoor transmission of the virus; in the latest news from New York, all individuals traveling to New York from 31 “hot spot” states must self-quarantine for 2 weeks upon their arrival in NY (other states have put similar restrictions in place), and those arriving at airports in NY must fill out a Health Department traveler form or face a possible $2,000 fine and mandatory quarantine order • U.S. Government : During a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that states may need to reconsider their reopening plans as cases continue to rise across the country. “I wouldn’t necessarily say an absolute shutdown, lockdown, but if someone is going from gateway to Phase 1 to Phase 2 and they get into trouble in Phase 2, they may need to go back to Phase 1,”. Fauci cited Texas, Arizona, and Florida among those states that may need to consider these measures • Business News: Some major retailers and attractions are also closing of their own accord. Disney announced that its Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California would not reopen as scheduled (though Disneyworld, in Florida, has reopened), and Apple announced that it is reclosing its stores in states where Covid-19 cases are spiking (Texas, Arizona and Florida, among others)
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